Macklin Celebrini helped San Jose complete the fifth latest four-goal comeback win in NHL history as the Sharks stunned the Penguins and Sidney Crosby, who climbed closer to the franchise points record.
* Patrick Kane, one of several other No. 1 picks who shone Saturday, needs nine points to become the ninth player in League history with the title of all-time NHL scoring leader among U.S.-born skaters. He also requires two tallies to become the League’s fifth U.S.-born 500-goal scorer.
* Quinn Hughes is expected to make his highly anticipated Wild debut in one of five games carried by Sportsnet programming Sunday.
Celebrini helps Sharks complete LATE four-goal, third-period comeback win
Macklin Celebrini (1-2—3) factored on three of San Jose’s five unanswered goals – capped by the primary assist on John Klingberg’s overtime winner – as the Sharks rallied from a 5-1 third-period deficit to stun the Penguins. Klingberg also tallied at 7:33 of the third period to start the rally for San Jose, which recorded its second four-goal comeback win in franchise history (also Dec. 7, 2023) and the fifth latest in NHL history.
* Celebrini collected his 11th career three-point game to tie Brian Bellows for the sixth most by a teenager in League history. The player who ranks second on that list was Celebrini’s opponent and fellow No. 1 pick Sidney Crosby (1-1—2), who reached 1,721 career points and needs three to pass Mario Lemieux (1,723) for the most in franchise history.
Other past-and-present No. 1 NHL DRaft picks ALSO produce in wins Saturday
Matthew Schaefer, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Patrick Kane also contributed in victories during the 13-game slate:
* Schaefer scored his ninth goal of the season to help the Islanders (19-11-3, 41 points) move into first place in the Eastern Conference for a few hours before it was reclaimed by the Hurricanes (20-9-2, 42 points). Schaefer tied Rasmus Dahlin (9 in 2018-19) and Zach Bogosian (9 in 2008-09) for the NHL’s third-highest single-season goal total by a defenseman age 18 or younger behind Phil Housley (17 in 1982-83) and Bobby Orr (13 in 1966-67).
* McDavid opened the scoring with a goal reminiscent of his highlight-reel tally at Scotiabank Arena on Jan. 6, 2020, and added two more points to help the Oilers earn a win in his hometown. Tristan Jarry (25 saves) logged a victory in his team debut and Leon Draisaitl (0-3—3) reached 999 career points – he needs one to become the first German-born player in League history with 1,000.
* MacKinnon (1-1—2) opened the scoring with his League-leading 26th goal of the season and ended his night with point no. 55 of 2025-26, four up of McDavid, who became the NHL’s second 50-point scorer. The Avalanche earned their NHL-pacing 13th home win of the campaign (13-0-2) and became the sixth team in the past 45 years to record a 15-game season-opening home point streak. They joined the 2022-23 Bruins (22 GP), 2013-14 Ducks (22 GP), 2008-09 Sharks (22 GP), 2019-20 Bruins (17 GP) and 1988-89 Flames (17 GP).
* Kane collected 1-1—2 in his return to Chicago to reach 1,366 career points and climb within nine of passing Mike Modano (1,374) for the most by a U.S.-born player in NHL history. Kane (pictured below with Modano, Phil Housley & Joe Mullen) has recorded 645 of his 1,366 career points at United Center, which mark the most by a U.S.-born player at a U.S.-based venue in League history.
Goals by Panarin, Eriksson Ek featured in #NHLStats: Live Updates
Saturday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the 13-game slate, including a penalty-shot goal by Artemi Panarin and a late winner by Joel Eriksson Ek:
* Panarin scored his first career penalty-shot goal and J.T. Miller (2-0—2) had the overtime winner as the Rangers rallied from deficits of 3-0 and 4-2 to defeat the Canadiens. Panarin became the first New York player with a penalty-shot goal since Dan Boyle (Dec. 9, 2015) and the fifth in franchise history with one against Montreal, following Camille Henry (March 8, 1958), Danny Lewicki (Oct. 24, 1956), Chuck Scherza (Nov. 30, 1944) and Mac Colville (Dec. 27, 1941).
* After Ottawa scored two goals to tie the game, Eriksson Ek scored the winner with 24 seconds remaining in regulation to help the Wild (18-9-5, 41 points) win their third straight game. The goal marked Eriksson Ek’s second career go-ahead goal in the final 30 seconds of regulation (also 59:33 on Feb. 7, 2020) as he joined Jim Dowd (59:44 on Jan. 21, 2004 & 59:36 on Dec. 13, 2003) as the second player in Wild history with two.
QUICK CLICKS
* Devils, Islanders, Rangers tripleheader provides hockey dream day for NHL.com’s Dan Rosen
* Jets honor Nino Niederreiter for becoming first Swiss-born player to reach 1,000 NHL games
* Bobby Rousseau dies at 85, 4-time Stanley Cup winner with Canadiens
* Bil Guerin‘s call on Quinn Hughes pays off for Wild
* Celebrate Women in Hockey with Lauren Cochran, Florida’s Chief Marketing Officer
SUNDAY SET TO FEATURE HUGHES MAKING WILD DEBUT ON sportsnet programming
Quinn Hughes is expected to make his highly anticipated Minnesota debut when the Wild welcome the Bruins to Grand Casino Arena in one of five games carried by Sportsnet programming Sunday. Hughes, who was acquired by the team in a blockbuster trade Friday, is set to become the first player to play for the franchise after winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
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